Cytokines in the Progression of Pancreaticβ-Cell Dysfunction

Abstract

The dysfunction of pancreaticβ-cell and the reduction inβ-cell mass are the decisive events in the progression of type 2 diabetes. There is increasing evidence that cytokines play important roles in the procedure ofβ-cell failure. Cytokines, such as IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and visfatin, have been shown to diversely regulate pancreaticβ-cell function. Recently, islet-derived cytokine PANcreatic DERived factor (PANDER or FAM3B) has also been demonstrated to be a regulator of isletβ-cell function. The change in cytokine profile in islet and plasma is associated with pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. In this paper, we summarize and discuss the recent studies on the effects of certain important cytokines on pancreaticβ-cell function. The imbalance in deleterious and protective cytokines plays pivotal roles in the development and progression of pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction under insulin-resistant conditions.